Category Pages For: Destinations

Day-to-day blogs about the places already visited

  FEBRUARY 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: It is said that ‘El Nido is another one of those ‘must see’ places in Palawan… if not THE place that most people come to Palawan to see‘. El Nido is not just a target location in itself, it is also the gateway to the Bacuit Archipelago of 40 islands ‘which rivals Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay for sheer dramatic seascape. Idyllic days are spent island hopping in a “bangka” (a traditional outrigger canoe)‘. Online write-ups paint an idyllic picture of El Nido: ‘Jaw-dropping El Nido has been dubbed as one of the most beautiful […]

El Nido – Philippines – Information

  JANUARY 2015:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: Port Barton is another one of those ‘must see’ places in Palawan. Many blogs say that it is ‘off the beaten track’; it is not. It is now on the beaten track, full of backpackers, and getting busier and busier every year. I met a seasoned expat from Australia who was also here last year. He said that accommodation and food prices have ‘doubled’ since last year (and that he won’t be coming again next year because of it). The man was, obviously, disappointed so you take such things with […]

Port Barton – Philippines – Information

  JANUARY 2015:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: Sabang is one of the ‘must go to’ places from Puerto Princesa; it is here that you get to the UNESCO listed Underground River. The 8Km long Underground River is the longest navigable Underground River in the world (over 4Kms is navigable). Many people come to Sabang on day trips from Puerto Princesa at, typical, costs of PHP1200 to PHP1500 (including the return minivan ride). I decided to stay for 4 nights in Sabang to see what else this place has to offer. Please Note: The tap water in the […]

Sabang – Philippines – Information

  JANUARY 2015:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: Palawan has almost no history of earthquakes (outside the main tectonic plates), not much history of typhoons (except in the very northern part and offshore islands), and no volcanoes. It is recognized internationally as one of the most desirable islands in the world – as it is ecologically protected by the national government and has a plethora of white sand beaches. Puerto Princesa City has a population of about 250,000 and is the provincial capital. This city is usually the starting point to explore the north of the island (e.g. El Nido). Near […]

Puerto Princesa – Philippines – Information

  JANUARY 2016:   Read our Vietnam Retirement Reviews. Read about Hanoi – Vietnam – GRANDPAcking Costs. Read about Vietnam Visa. OVERVIEW: I had no intention of extending my stay in Halong. I decided to spend my final 8 nights in Hanoi before flying on to The Philippines. I stayed in the Old Quarter (where most Tourists go). The Hanoi Old Quarter was what I was expecting… just another big city tourist area like District 1 in Saigon (I’m not a fan of big cities) with Tourist Shops, Tourist Restaurants and Tourist Bars inter-mingled with Chinese Style Shops, street stalls, and local cafes. Many […]

Hanoi – Vietnam – Information

  JANUARY 2016:   Click here to read our Vietnam Retirement Reviews. Click here for detailed Halong – Vietnam – GRANDPAcking Costs. Read about Vietnam Visa. OVERVIEW: I spent Christmas and New Year 2015 in Cat Ba Island and I went from there to Quan Lan Island so that I could see a bit more of Halong Bay. I decided to spend a few days in Halong City before heading for Hanoi… I wanted to see whether or not Halong City was more than just a transit point for people going to / from their Halong Bay cruises. GETTING THERE: I organised my own way from Quan Lan to […]

Halong – Vietnam – Information

JANUARY 2016: Click here to read our Vietnam Retirement Reviews. Click here for detailed Quan Lan – Vietnam – GRANDPAcking Costs. Read about Vietnam Visa. OVERVIEW: My stay over Christmas and New Year 2015 in Cat Ba Island left me feeling that I had not seen enough of Halong Bay. So, I looked north to the lesser known islands… GETTING THERE: I organised my own way from Cat Ba To Quan Lan. Please note that before you get onto the ferry out to Quan Lan you have to register your passport and Vietnamese Visa details with the police. You have to do the same when […]

Quan Lan – Vietnam – Information

  DECEMBER 2015:   Click here to read our Vietnam Retirement Reviews. Click here for detailed Cat Ba – Vietnam – GRANDPAcking Costs. Read about Vietnam Visa. OVERVIEW: I really enjoyed my time in Hoi An, but it was time to move on. I was looking forward to getting ‘more active’ in Cat Ba Island / Halong Bay. It was time for some ‘adventuring’, some kayaking, some trekking, and a trip by boat around Halong Bay. Cat Ba is the biggest island in Halong Bay and roughly half of the island is a National Park. GETTING THERE: To get from Hoi An to Cat Ba, I flew […]

Cat Ba – Vietnam – Information

  DECEMBER 2015:   Click here to read our Vietnam Retirement Reviews. Read about Vietnam Visa. OVERVIEW:  Hoi An was the principal port of the Cham Kingdom, which controlled the strategic spice trade with Indonesia from the 7th to the 10th century and was a major international port in the 16th and 17th centuries – and the foreign influences are still there to this day. While the serious shipping business has long since moved to Da Nang, the heart of the city is still the Ancient Town / Old Town, full of winding lanes and Chinese-styled shophouses, which is particularly atmospheric in the evening as the […]

Hoi An – Vietnam – Information

NOVEMBER 2015: Click here to read our Vietnam Retirement Reviews. Read about Vietnam Visa. OVERVIEW: Đà Nẵng is one of the major port cities in Vietnam (in addition to Ho Chi Minh City and Haiphong) and the biggest city on the South Central Coast of Vietnam; the city is situated on the coast of the Eastern Sea, at the opening end of the Hàn River. Đà Nẵng is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam, with a well-sheltered, easily accessible port; its location on the path of National Route 1A and the North–South Railway makes it a hub for transportation. It is located […]

Da Nang – Vietnam – Information

  NOVEMBER 2015:   Click here to read our Vietnam Retirement Reviews. Read about Vietnam Visa. OVERVIEW: Welcome to District 1, Saigon on a beach with lots of Russians. There are direct flights from Russia to Nha Trang which means that it is very much a Russian holiday destination. Nha Trang is westernised; there are a lot of western-style restaurants, coffee shops, bars and other services for foreigners. Thanks to the high density of foreigners, there are many citizens who speak English (and Russian). Hundreds of expats — Europeans, Australians, Asians, Canadians, and Americans — live in Nha Trang, either full- or part-time. This beach town on […]

Nha Trang – Vietnam – Information

  NOVEMBER 2015:   Click here to read our Vietnam Retirement Reviews. Read about Vietnam Visa. OVERVIEW: Welcome to one of the biggest building sites in the world! Phu Quoc island is very similar to Otres Beach, Cambodia. Not surprising given that Phu Quoc lies off of the Cambodian coast. Price-wise, they are also very similar. {… this post is still under construction…} GETTING THERE: I travelled from Saigon / Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc on a personalised Mekong Delta Tour. ARRIVAL: You arrive at the Ferry Port on the south east of the island. From there you can catch a taxi direct to your hotel […]

Phu Quoc – Vietnam – Information